Youth Ministry Team!

Four years ago when I started as the Youth Minister here at Foster Road, I felt like I had almost no idea what I was doing. Then over the next 12 months I realized I was right.

Then over the next 12 months I worked very hard to figure it out. I went to Youth Minister training courses, attended Youth events, and read lots of books. And one theme kept coming up over and over... you can't do it alone!

So I began to envision a Youth Ministry Team. A team of volunteers that would take on a small portion of the tasks and classes and connections that make-up Youth Ministry. Instead of me trying to do everything and never actually getting it all done, this team would each do small things and hold each other accountable to make sure it gets done. Sounds like a pretty good vision, huh?

Then certain situations began to force the issue. Last summer, I had to take a Wednesday night class and would miss 16 weeks of Youth Group! So James Leonard came along and volunteered to teach the Youth Group while I was gone. We worked out some kinks and he was an awesome change of pace for the teenagers. I had the first member of the Youth Ministry Team. Now what?

So over the past 6 months, the church has been making a definitive effort to get new teachers involved. During this effort, we recognized Rona Ball as a potential teacher for the Junior High class... a class we haven't had for years. She was excited about it and I had yet another person on this Youth Ministry Team. But I still couldn't quite organize it yet...

So then I go to Chicago for a week and realize I need a teacher for the Youth Group since James was busy and I'm gone. Carl Van stepped up to the plate and taught an excellent class. I was excited to hear that the teens enjoyed the class and he enjoyed teaching it. So he decides he could be one of the official "back-up" teachers. Now I had one more Team member.

Over the past few months, Dale Morris has said he wants to be involved in teaching. The hard part was finding which age group he would feel most comfortable in. Finally, with the start of the new Junior High class, Dale decided that was the class. And with that also volunteered to be a part of the Youth Ministry team.

So we have it... 6 members... Vince, Bobbie, James, Rona, CV, and Dale.
So they will each begin playing a role in Youth Ministry in different ways. I'm excited to see what the power of six will accomplish in this Ministry and am even more excited to see how the teenagers will connect with these adults. I thank each sincerely and wish many blessings upon them the teenagers!

Drew's Baptism!

A few weeks ago (yeah, I'm a little behind), Drew Senior was baptized into Christ! He has been earnestly seeking God for some time now and finally became overwhelmed with the urge to be baptized. We are so excited for him because we know it brings the promise of forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Drew has been an awesome part of our Youth Group for years now but I'm sure he will be making an even greater impact as he matures in Christ. Drew had his whole family (from several different towns and churches) all visit to watch his baptism and encourage him in his faith. And that is what we are the most excited about... Drew's faith journey is merely beginning and we can't wait to see how the Lord works in his life. Congratulations DREW!

Flew in from the Windy City

While in Chicago last week, I was trying to blog nightly about the trip, but found that I was too tired most nights to actually make any sense! So instead, I'm going to blog about it now and summarize my trip with a shorter but better blog!

So I flew in Friday morning. I got in at 7:00am and thought I would have to wait until 3:00pm to check-in but the hotel had a room waiting for me! Sweet! So I got some extra sleep before I went for breakfast. I found this pancake place that serves the pancakes with all sorts of creams on top. I wasn't sure about it but I tried it... man it was good! I had chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla cream with strawberries on top. I have to admit - one pancake was plenty!! Then I went walking around and eventually ended up at the White Sox game. I sat right behind home plate but hung out in the outfield lounge until the game started. It was a good game but the White Sox lost 5-4.

Saturday I attended a conference all day... not fun but that's the real reason I was there. Then we went to dinner at a Brazilian Steakhouse. Neat concept. You get the greens from a buffet and then they bring various meats to your table. Great food but very filling!

Sunday we had an off-day so I went to church at the Northside Church of Christ in Chicago. It was a cool little church of about 20-30 people. The regular preacher was away so they had a former member come preach. Turns out he now preaches down the road at another Church of Christ. They were very friendly and even let me be a part of the service by doing the closing prayer. I had a great Bible class and Worship. That's one of the best things about being in the Church... you have family everywhere!

After that, I went to the Field Museum where I saw all kinds of cool stuff like dinosaurs and mummies. They have the King Tut exhibit but I didn't want to pay the $15 to get in - yah, I'm cheap! Afterwards, we went to the Navy Pier for dinner, shopping, and fun. We ate a very cool Italian restaurant that overlooks the water. I had Lobster. Yeah, this time I wasn't cheap!

On Monday I had conference all day again and was too tired to do much else afterward! Tuesday was conference all day again but we went out to another Italian restaurant afterward. It was near the John Hancock Building. Also, I went shopping at Marshall Fields. This place is an entire city block big and nine-stories tall! Amazing. There were lots of other stores like that also. They are on the Magnificent Mile. Another cool thing I saw was the Chicago Tribune Building (more pictures here) which has pieces from other buildings from around the world cemented into it's structure. There were things from the World Trade Centers, Great Wall of China, Buddhist Temples, and something from every state. Very cool.

This post doesn't come anywhere close to fully describing how much I saw (and didn't see) in Chicago. I wrote this over several days and have decided to post it as is. Let me just say it was a very cool trip but next time I go I want to take my family. It just wasn't the same without them...

Of course, you know I have to throw in a Bible verse for you. So in the spirit of Chicago and it's tall buildings... Ephesians 2:19-22

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

Notice that we are all part of the same building. That's why you can enjoy service with other Christians no matter where you travel. We really are one big family!

I can't wait to see you all Sunday! God Bless.